A PLEASURE TRIP ON THE MANAPOURI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 19

A PLEAS URE TRIP ON THE MANAPOURI.

Few vessels of the Union Steam Ship Company's well-known fleet have maintained a better record than has the Manapouri, which has been thoroughly reconstructed, and takes up her running on Wednesday in the trade between Auckland, Sydney, and the South Sea Islands. Since she has been under the hands oi the company's artisans at Port Chalmers the old boilers and a great deal of the original machinery have been removed, and the old bunkers and stoke holds completely gutted out. Her hull was thoroughly chipped, cleaned, and painted, the floors of her old stoke hold have been completely renewed, the engine room has been stiffened and a new top fitted to it, the hull has also been stiffened with new webb frames to the height of the main deck, and several strong beams fitted right across the ship. Two new boilers, made by Messrs Denny and Co., of Dumbarton, to work at a pressure of 2001b to the square inch, have been fitted into the ship. Each of these boilers is about 14ft in diameter by 12ft long, and has three furnaces fitted with Howden's forced draught ; the fan for this purpose is about 7ft in diameter, and is placed on the upper deck. A part of the old machinery has been utilised, and the engines converted from compound to quadruple expansion, the diameters of the new cylinders being respectively 20iin, 30in, 41in and 60in, with a length of stroke of 48in.

Tho passenger accommodation has been entirely rearranged, and is admirably suited to the new trade in which she will be engaged — viz., between Aucklandj Sydney, and the Pacific Islands. The original dining saloon and all the state cabins on that deck (with the exception of a few forward) have been removed, and the space utilised for cargo. The new dining saloon- and cabins are all on the upper or weather deck, and most excellent accommodation for the commander and his officers is provided on the bridge and poop decks, *^rhile quarters for the stewards, as usual, are provided in the forecastle. The crew's quarters have been entirely renovated and Jitted with baths, lavatories, etc. On the bridge deck there is a charmingly arranged social hall, a smoking room, and two special cabins. The furnishing and decorations of these compartments, with those of the dining Faloon. are chastely elegant, leaving nothing to be desired ; while in itself the bridge deck affords a promenade of 1 32 ft in length. The Manapouri has now accommodation for 107 saloon and 27 second cabin passengers (for whose comfort nothing has been left undone), while in the dining saloon are sittings for 55 passengers. The vessel is fitted throughout with the electric light, and there are two powerful ventilating fans driven by an electro motor, one on the poop, and one in the forecastle, which will be used to ventilate the holds, while specially large ventilators have been provided ill all the holds on' account of the large quantity of fruit to be carried.

The whole of the decks .have been caulked, the deck work, bulwarks, etc., repainted, grained, and varnished." All the boats have been thoroughly overhauled, and each fitltd with Captain Cameron's patent boat releasing gear. The cargo-carrying capacity has been doubled, this being effected principally through the removal of the passenger accommodation to the upper deck, rendering it at the same time more suitable to the requirements of a hot climate, such as phe will trade to. The boilers have been placed convenient to the engines, with the stoke hold in the fore part, thus allowing a large coal bunker, with a carrying capacity of 283 tons. There is a tunnel through this bunker into the main hold, which allows coal from that hold to be taken into the stoke hold without bringing it up to the main deck. This is intended for the outward voyage, so that the main hold will bo clear for cargo on the return trip.

A new freezing chamber has been fitted on the Linde principle, one portion of it capable of holding about 20 tons, being available for cargo, and the remaining" holding eight tonß for the ship's stores. The whole of the work of reconstructing the engines, etc., has been carried on under the direct supervision of Mr J. Cook, the company's superintending engineer, and it is needless to say when thnt gentleman is satisfied , tho work must be perfect in all its parts. The various artisans who have been engaged on tho work are all deserving a meed of praise for the excellent manner in which they havo carried out their respective parts.

It wa3 decided to make a trial of the engines on Saturday, and, with their usual liberality, the company issued a number of invitations for the event, and, as a matter of courFC, the good ship was veil filled. Tho representatives of the engineering trade were largely in evidence ; amongst others being Messrs Morgan, Cable, Gardiner, Morrison, and Matherhill; Mr E. G. Allen, M.H.It. , J. Mill (mayor of Port Chalmers), Captains Watnon and Paton, Messrs Murray, Sutlon, J. Watson, and numerous others. The chip was in charge of Captain Crawshaw, while Captain Cameron (the company's marine superintendant) courteously received and entertained all and sundry. A start was made from the George street pier shortly after 1 p.m., and steaming down the harbour she stood out to pea and headed for Moeraki, on reaching whicli headland she slewed and headed back for the Port, maintaining a speed on the outward run of 14? knots, and on the return back of 14- knots, which was a remarkably good result. On returning up the harbour a number of the guests assembled in the saloon to compliment Captain Cameron on the success of the trip, and Mr R. G. Allen, M.H.R. for the district, said it was most satisfactory to all present to lo have marked the progress and development of the Union S.S. Co. Looking at the Manapouri that day, it must be admitted die was a specially fine vessel, and in every way suited for the trade in which the company intended to place her. It showed that the company were e\cr keenly desirous of coping with the new branchee of trade ever presenting theinholvcs, and it spoke volumes for the liberality and forethought of the company that they should do so much work at Port Chalmers. — (Applause.) He desired, through Captain Cameron, to thank the company for the very agreeable trip they had enjoyed. Captain Cameron was indebted to Mr Allen for the manner in which he spoke of the Union Company, its progress, and efforts to advance the port. Tho Manapouri had been 15 year? here, and had done good service in that time, and the company, finding it necessary to extend its inland traffic, had determined to utilise the Manapouri for that purpose, with what effect they all saw. The 'work of her reconstruction was most satisfactory to all concerned, and the ship would enter on her new career under the brightest of conditions. He thanked them heartily for the compliments they had paid. On arrival at Port Chalmers the passengers gave three hearty cheers for the Union Company and Captain Cameron, and landed well plaaaad with their oulixub